Privacy Issues in the Workplace

12. California Patient Privacy Protections ...................................................................................................50 13. Adopting a Practical Approach ..............................................................................................................51 B. Pre-Offer Inquiries and Examinations — What You Can and Cannot Ask Job Applicants Before Making a Conditional Offer of Employment........................................................................................................................53 1. What Is a Medical Examination? ...........................................................................................................54 2. What Is a Conditional Offer of Employment? .......................................................................................54 3. Case Study on Conditional Offer of Employment .................................................................................55 4. Acceptable Pre-Offer Inquiries ..............................................................................................................56 5. Examples of Improper Pre-Offer Inquiries.............................................................................................56 6. Physical Agility/Fitness Testing.............................................................................................................57 7. Drug and Alcohol Testing of Applicants ...............................................................................................58 8. Psychological Testing ............................................................................................................................58 C. How to Handle the Obviously Disabled Applicant ..............................................................................................58 D. Post-Offer Medical Examinations and Inquiries ..................................................................................................59 1. Requirements for Post-Offer Medical Examinations .............................................................................59 2. HIV Testing Is Impermissible ................................................................................................................60 E. Existing Employment Stage: Those Who are Already Employed ........................................................................60 F. Denial of Employment Based on Medical Examination Results ..........................................................................60 1. Employers May Reject Applicants Whose Job Performance Would Endanger the Applicant or Others ................................................................................................................................................................61 2. Case Study on FEHA “Safety-Of-Others” Test .....................................................................................61 3. Case Study on Pre-Employment Medical Examinations........................................................................62 G. Current Employees ...............................................................................................................................................62 1. Requests for Reasonable Accommodation.............................................................................................63 2. Requests for Medical Leave under The FMLA and CFRA....................................................................64 3. Certification of Entitlement to Pregnancy Leave ...................................................................................67 4. Workers’ Compensation.........................................................................................................................68 5. Drug Testing of Current Employees ......................................................................................................68 H. Fitness for Duty Examinations .............................................................................................................................68 1. When Is a Fitness for Duty Examination Allowed? ...............................................................................69 2. When Is a Fitness for Duty Examination Required? ..............................................................................69 3. Case Studies on Fitness for Duty Examinations.....................................................................................70 4. What Information Is an Employer Entitled to Receive Following a Fitness for Duty Examination? ....71 5. What Information Can the Employer Give a Doctor? ............................................................................71 I. Can the Doctor Have an Employee’s Prior Medical Records? .............................................................................72 J. Handling and Maintenance of Employee Medical Information ...........................................................................72 1. Requirements Regarding Employee Medical File..................................................................................72 2. Confidentiality of Medical Information Act...........................................................................................73 3. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.............................................................................75 K. Disclosing Medical Information ...........................................................................................................................77 1. Employee Requests ................................................................................................................................78 2. Responding to Subpoenas ......................................................................................................................78 3. Case Studies Involving Disclosure of Medical Information ..................................................................81 S ECTION 4 Drug and Alcohol Testing and Information.................................................................................................................82 A. Employer-Regulated Drug and Alcohol Testing ..................................................................................................84 1. General Legal Standards ........................................................................................................................84 2. Types of Drug Testing for Existing Employees .....................................................................................88 3. Implementation of Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs and Duty to Bargain ......................................94 B. DOT-Regulated Drug and Alcohol Testing..........................................................................................................95 1. Records Check Requirement ..................................................................................................................95 2. The Information to Be Released.............................................................................................................96

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